Bruno Works makes space in Downtown for tiny little startups

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While new high-rises in Downtown Pittsburgh add more office space for bankers, lawyers, and CEO’s, other freelance professionals might still find it hard to acquire affordable desk space. But Bruno Works, a new coworking space on Liberty Avenue, is hoping to change that.

Eve Picker has opened the new coworking space in her Bruno building at 945 Liberty Avenue, above the ToonSeum. The facility consists of two floors of loft space, with desks, conference rooms, kitchen, private telephone rooms, and other amenities.

Picker says it’s an ideal space for “tiny little startups.” There are currently 11 individuals in the shared office, with room for 40.

The reasons for joining a co-working space vary, but likely include the affordability of shared amenities. And for folks who would otherwise work from home, it can offer a more normalized work routine.

Picker says some professionals are also looking for synergistic connections. Those types of relationships are already being formed at Bruno Works, since an artist found work with a web designer just desks away.

And Bruno Works has its own synergy with another coworking space, East Liberty’s The Beauty Shoppe. They’re offering a shared flex-pass where one can have access to both facilities.

Other amenities at Bruno Works include a make station, mail boxes, high speed internet, as well as printing, faxing, copying and shredding. Membership costs range from $300 for a dedicated desk, to just $50 for access to conference rooms. And for $150 members will have an unassigned desk and 24/7 access to the building.

In addition to office space, Picker is launching the Community Creative School, a social programming series that’s focused on bringing Pittsburgh's design and creative community together. The events will be free, and hosted at Bruno Works.

Although there are other facilities for startups in Pittsburgh, and coworking spaces like Beauty Shoppe, and Garfield’s Catapult, Bruno Works is the first of its kind in Downtown.